Machine for splitting hogs, beef, and the like



April 14, 1953 G. F. MoYER ErAL 2,634,457

MACHINE FOR SPLITTING HOGS, BEEF AND THE LIKE Filed Nov'. 4. 1949 3 sheets-sheet 1 Inventors Gerald F. Moyer Will/'am H. Mitchell Bf @Maa/n WWW Z9. M1518);

April 14, 1953 G. F. MoYER ETAL 2,634,457

MACHINE Foa sPLIT'rING Hoes, BEEF, AND THE LIKE Gera/d Moyer William H. Mitchell WWW HMM April 14, 1953 G. F. MoYER ETAL 2,634,457

MACHINE FOR SPLITTING HOGS, BEEF, AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 4, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 3.

Inventors Gera/d Moyer wil/iam H. Mitchell B, www.

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Patented Apr. 14, 1953 MACHINE FOR SPLITTING HOGS, BEEF, AND THE LIKE Gerald F. Moyer and William H. Mitchell, Marshalltown, Iowa Application November 4, 1949, Serial No. 125,508

8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for splitting meat, such as hogs, beef and the like, and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a machine for splitting the backbones of hogs, beef and the like after the said animals have been initially split.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a machine for splitting hogs, beef and the like including a spreading mechanism that will effectively spread a split animal and a cutting member that is synchronized with the spreading mechanism whereby the cutting member will move to split the backbone of an animal as the animal is spread by the spreading mechanism.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine that will spread a split animal, and split the backbone of an animal while the animal is held spread.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a machine of the aforementioned character that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, efficient and durable in operation, small and compact in structure, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention and showing in dotted lines a hog in position to have its backbone split by the machine;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 and with parts broken away to show details and with dotted lines showing the cutter and the lift means for the cutter in their lowered position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plan of section line 5-5 Figure 4; and,

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 6-6 Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is discloseda preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral I8 represents a support or table structure having a pair of spaced parallel, horizontally disposed, substantially V-shaped guide troughs I2 secured to the upper portion thereof. The table structure is of any suitable type and it is preferred that the legs of the table structure be anchored to a floor I3 through the medium of uprights I4 and anchor bolts I6 in order, to prevent accidental movement or overtipping of the table structure.

A carriage I8 is mounted for horizontal sliding movement on the table structure and includes a pair of substantially V-shaped rails 20 that are received within the guide troughs I2. A plurality of anti-friction` members or ballbearings 22 mounted on the inner surface of each guide trough I2 bear against the outer surface of each rail 20 to permit, free, unrestricted sliding movement of the rails and consequently the carriage relative to the table structure.

Pairs of spaced parallel angle iron guide members 24 rise from the carriage I8 and slidably receive a block 26 having a vertically inclined opening 28 in which there is suitably fixed the shank portion of a cutter or cleaver 30. Bearings 32 mounted on the upper ends of the guide channels 24 rotatably support a tubular shaft 34 on which there is secured a drum 36. A iiexible conduit or hose 38 is wound about the drum 36 and one end of the hose is coupled by any suitable means to a suitable air hammer 40 supported on the block 26.

Mounted on the guide members 24 for horizontal swinging movement is a pair of complementary spreading members or plates 42 the lower ends of which support depending cam members 44 that will engage stops or abutments 46 mounted on the table structure to effect a spreading of the members 42 as the carriage is moved from a position directly above the table structure to a position forwardly of the table structure.

Means is provided for moving the carriage forwardly of the table structure, and this means includes a pump cylinder 48 that is mounted on the table structure. The pump cylinder 48 slidably receives a piston 50 and a piston rod 52, the latter being secured to a bracket or guide 54 that depends from the carriage. The guide 54, in addition to its function as a connector between the piston rod 52 and the carriage I8, is also slidably received on a guide bar 56 fixed to the table structure to guide the sliding movement of the carriage relative to the table structure.

Elongated spring members or coil springs 58 are terminally secured to the bracket 54 and the rear portion of the table structure I0 to yieldblock i6 and the cutter Se after the .been lowered. This means consists of an upora substantially 1J-shaped piston rod 82. remaining leg portion of the piston rod '32 is pro- 3 ingly urge the carriage to a position directly above the table structure and therefore counteract the movementl of the carriage by the piston rod 52, but not sufiiciently to restrict the carriage from being moved by the piston rod forwardly of the table structure.

A supply tank 69, filled with iuid under pressure by any suitable means, is mounted on the carriage for movement therewith and includes an outlet line or conduit 52 from which there branches supply lines or conduits Sli and 66. The line 64 extends to a valve housing 658 mounted on one pair of the guide members 2d and the housing S8 is also connected to one end of the hose 3E so that when the valve (not shown) in the housing S8 is moved to its open position, fluid, under pressure in the tank et, will pass through the line 62, enter the housing 63 and then pass through the hose 38 to actuate the air hammer 40 thereby forcing the block 2S and the cutter S downwardly in the guide members 24.

The branch conduit t@ is connected to a 'iurther valve housing le which in turn is connected to a supply conduit or line le that extends ito the rear end of the pump cylinder d3. il still urther valve housing is interposed in the supply conduit i2 and includes a. drain nipple l5. The branch conduit @il is necessarily flexible since the conduit 62 and will move relative to vthe -conduit T2, however, the remaining ccnduits may be cf relatively rigid material, Such as copper.

Means is Yprovided for lifting ci' raising the same have standing pump cylinder 'i8 in which there is slidably.mounted a piston Se one ieg portion The vided with a ilateral proection that is detach- .'ably secured to the vblock EE.

The'lower end of the pump cylinder i8 is connected Vtol-an outlet 181i extending from the tank Yet another valve housing t having'a drain 'ilppie 5S is provided in the outlet @il whereby a duid, under pressure in the tank may be admitted into the pump cylinder "i to raise the 'pistont the piston rod 32 and consequently the block and the cutter 36.

A bell crank lever t is pivoted on the carriage it and includes upper and loxk leg portions. he lower legvportion of the lever is pivoted to the forward end of an actuator l cr pitman 52 and the rear end of the link l2 is pivoted Vto an operating arm E4 for the valve (n t shown) in 'the valve housing 'i'l so that as the link et is moved forwardly the valve (not shown) in the hoi' ng 'le will be moved to a position to permit in the pump cylinder S to exit by-way-or" the drain nipple 76 and the springs 58 can return the carriage iS toits normal position directly over the tablestructure i0.

A vertically movable rod t is carried by the Acarriage le and its lower end is pivoted to the :upper leg portion of the lever A spring 98 vurges the rod 96 upwardly until the block 25, .sliding downwardly on'the channels 263, contacts the rod S5 at which time the lever et will be rocked to.` move the link 92 forwardly to permit viiuid in' the cylinder it to exit through the drain nipple l5.

The lower leg portion oi the lever 913 is con- Lejct'edtothe,valveoperating arm lili! for the valve in'thehousing by a iurther'link or pit- .fmanfi so'thatJasfthe link 9;?.moves`forwardly the valve in the housing 86 will be moved to block the drain nipple 86 and permit iiuid, under pressure in the tank 6i), to pass into the cylinder 'i3 to eiect a lifting of the block 26 and the cutter 30. However, when the link l02 is moved rearwardly, as a result of the spring 98, the valve in the housing 86 will be moved to permit iiuid in the cylinder '18 to drain therefrom by way of the nipple 88 to thereby permit the air hammer 46 to force the block 25 and the cutter 30 downwardly without restriction from fluid in the cylinder 18.

The valve mounted in the housing 68 is also provided with an operating arm |04, so placed that it will be engaged b-y a lug H36 on one of the members 42 as the members l2 are spread, in order to open the valve in the housing 68 and permit duid, under pressure in the tank 60, to enter the hose 38 for actuating the hammer 40.

There is also provided an operating arm |08 for 'the valve inthe housing'li so that iiuid, under pressure in the tank 59, may be directed into the pump cylinder :i8 to .cause a forward movement of the carriage relative to the table structure lil. This latter operating arm, 108, is actuated in a manner which will be described when refer ing to the mode of operation `ofthe present machine.

In practical use of the present invention, -the carriage i8 is disposed ldirectly above ythe table structure il), the piston rod 52 is retracted land the block 26 and the cutter 30 are raised. As a `trolley il@ supporting a hog `or lthe like H2 is moved along a guide bar Hd, a bracket l i6 on .the trolley H will actuate the valve in the valve housing lil to permit a fluid in the :tank 501110 pass into the cylinder 8 to vcause the carriage i8 to move forwardly of the table Astructure i9.

'ihe hog H2 is Split prior toits lplacement on the trolley I i@ and as the carriage `i8 vmoves forwardly the cam members M will engage the abutments d to open the members 42, which enter the split in the hog i l2, thereby eiecting a spreading of the hog.

As the members .42 open, a predetermined amount, the lug It will engage the operating arm Eli, opening the valve in housing-S3, `to actuate the hammer t) and cause the block 2t to be forced downwardly whereupon the cutter '-30 will split the backbone of the hog.

When the block 2Scontacts Vand urgesthegrod di? downwardly, the valve in Yhousing 14 will be moved to release huid from the cylinder i8 and the valve in housing 8 will be moved to permit the entrance of uid into the cylinder :78 .whereby the carriage iS will be moved rearwardly,.by springs 58, and the block 26 and cutter Si! will-be raised, it being understood that the trolley I!!! is moved topermit the next trolley to -actuate the valve in housing l@ and start =thevoperation again.

Obviously, theinstant structure may be-operated by air,.electricity or liquid drive although the simplest and most economical pri-melmover is the hydraulic means illustrated.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A machine for splitting hogs, beef and the like comprising a support, a carriage slidably Amounted on said support, a vertically movable for moving-the carriage relativeto thesupport, means operated by' the spreading meansforfforcing the cutter downwardly to split the backbone of a hog, and means connecting the carriage to the support and counteracting the means for moving the carriage relative to the support.

2. A machine for splitting hogs, beef and the like comprising a support, a forwardly and rearwardly movable carriage slidably mounted on said support, a vertically movable cutter on said carriage, means connecting the carriage to the support and carried by said carriage for spreading a split hog, means mounted on the support and operatively connected to the carriage for moving the carriage relative to the support and for retaining the carriage in its forward position, means operated upon a downward movement of the cutter for arresting the operation of the means for moving the carriage relative to the support, means operated by said spreading means for forcing the cutter downwardly to split the backbone of a hog, and means resiliently restricting forward movement of the carriage.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for spreading a split hog includes a pair of swingable spreading members, said members being spread upon movement of said carriage relative to said support.

ll. A machine for splitting the backbones of split animals comprising a support, a horizontally slidable, forwardly and rearwardly movable carriage on said support, a vertically movable cutter mounted on said carriage, means mounted on the support and connected to the carriage for moving the carriage forwardly to a position for splitting the backbone of an animal, means on the support activated by an animal approaching the support for operating said carriage moving means, means on said carriage and actuated by the support as the former moves forwardly for spreading a split animal, means connected to the cutter for forcing the cutter downwardly, and control means operated by the animal spreading means for activating said means for forcing the cutter downwardly.

5. The combination of claim 4 and a means connected to the cutter for raising the cutter and a means on the support controlling said cutter raising means and operated by said cutter.

6. A machine for splitting the backbones of split animals comprising a support, a horizontally slidable, forwardly and rearwardly movable carriage on said support, a vertically movable cutter mounted on said carriage, a pressure tank on said carriage, a cylinder carried by said support and -connected to said tank, a piston rod received by said cylinder and connected to said carriage for moving the carriage away from the support as fluid under pressure in the tank enters the cylinder, a valve on the support and connected to the tank and cylinder actuated to an open position as a split animal approaches the support to permit fluid under pressure to enter the cylinder from the tank, a pair of spreaders on the carriage for spreading a split hog, means carried by the carriage engaging and spreading said spreaders upon forward movement of the carriage, an air hammer connected to the tank for moving the cutter downwardly, a further valve operatively connected to said air hammer and actuated to an open position during spreading of said spreaders to activate said air hammer, means connecting the carriage to the support and yieldingly urging said carriage rearwardly, and a still further valve on said carriage operatively connected to said cylinder and actuated by said cutter to lrelease fluid in said cylinder and thereby permit said last mentioned means to retract said carriage to its rearward position.

7. The combination of claim 6 and a means connected to said tank and to said cutter for raising the cutter and a relief valve member on said carriage also operated by said cutter to its open position to permit fluid in the tank to be utilized for raising the cutter.

8. The combination of claim 6 and a further, vertically disposed, cylinder supported on said carriage, a further piston associated with said further cylinder and connected to said cutter, said further cylinder being connected to said tank to effect a movement of the further piston to lift the cutter upon entrance of iiuid into the further cylinder, and a valve member operated by the cutter for permitting a fluid in the tank to enter the further cylinder.

GERALD F. MOYER. WILLIAM H. MITCHELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 556,956 Boyd Mar. 24, 1896 '768,236 Pratt Aug. 23, 1904 '783,426 Frey Feb. 28, 1905 1,203,753 Letin Nov. 7, 1916 1,271,909 Karhan July 9, 1918 2,403,518 Gaddini July 9, 1946 

